Beautifully set Thanksgiving table

Hosting Thanksgiving for 11?

Don't panic. You've got this. Here is your complete command center for managing the food, the schedule, and the stress for your feast.

The "Turkey Math" Calculator

Enter your exact guest count below to instantly see how much food you need to buy. Defaults to 11 guests with standard leftovers.

turkey

Turkey Size

17 lbs

Based on 1.5 lbs per person (raw weight) for decent leftovers.

nutrition

Potatoes

8 lbs

For mashed. Approx 0.75 lbs per person.

bakery_dining

Stuffing

9 cups

Prepared volume. ~3/4 cup per person.

liquor

Gravy

6 cups

Always make extra. Approx 1/2 cup per person.

soup_kitchen

Cranberry Sauce

3 cups

~1 cup per 4 guests.

pie

Pies (9-inch)

2 whole pies

Assumes 6-8 slices per pie. Better to have too much pie!

Data sources: link link link

The Stress-Free Timeline

Don't try to do it all on Thursday. Breaking it down is the only way to survive hosting 11 people.

1 Week Before

  • check_circle"Dry Run" Shopping Trip: Buy all non-perishables (canned pumpkin, flour, sugar, spices, wine, drinks). Avoid the mad rush later.
  • check_circleClean Out Fridge: You need massive space for the turkey and casseroles. Be ruthless.
  • check_circleMake Ahead (Freezable): Pie dough and turkey stock (for gravy) can be made now and frozen.
Timeline based on expert consensus link link